13² ,17³ -Cyclopheophorbide b enol as a catabolite of chlorophyll b in phycophagy by protists

Both 13 2 ,17 3 ‐cyclopheophorbide a and b enols were produced along with ingestion of green microalgae containing chlorophylls a and b by a centrohelid protist (phycophagy). The results suggest that chlorophyll b as well as chlorophyll a were directly degraded to colored yet non‐phototoxic catabolites in the protistan phycophagic process. Such a simple process by the predators makes a contrast to the much sophisticated chlorophyll degradation...